Credit to NF for the song "intro lll"
Chapter 2: Strange girl
Splinter reluctantly sat down, Putting Dai in between Donnie and him. He ordered some sushi, just something simple that wouldn't cost the brilliant chef too much time. Dai decided she probably wouldn't eat much the next day with getting the house ready, May as well eat something else tonight before going home. She ordered some ramen and Murakami prepared the food. They were so quiet..And she looked so distracted, sad even. She had an earbud in listening to a Lindsey Stirling song, "lost girls" the song seemed like out of a fantasy film, girls running in forests chasing bugs and mythic creatures in small white dresses. She'd always imagine it, like it's right there and she could be free in the forests as well.
"So.. Have you mentioned your music career to them yet?" Murakami sets down a bowl in front of her as everyone glances at her. She did everything she could to avoid eye contact and focused on eating. He knew he put her on the spot, planned it while making the food even. With the turtles and splinter hiding in the sewers and their friends gone murakami thought maybe now would be a good time for them to meet somebody new, and from tonight..she seemed like the perfect candidate. She seems to be up late nights, not afraid of a little fight, sarcastic, maybe they could find a common ground? After all, he knows the youngest of this clan loves her music. The rock/techno/pop multigenre music that fills the pages on her socials and the lyrics sometimes filling the masked turtle's mouths.
"You're a musician?" Leo asked as her anxiety rose, causing her leg to start bouncing. She simply nodded.
"Not exactly a career..just a hobby I guess." Everyone seemed to get a little excited. Especially the one in Orange on the far left, in between raph and leo.
"Ooh! Do you know about.. what was her name? " he trailed off trying to think before finishing his sentence "Sakura's blood!"
Splinter shot Mikey a strange look, That name was incredibly concerning as well as just weird to him. Though it's probably better than what he'd hear on the TV as the turtles were growing up..
Sakura's blood..That was the coverup name she had come up for herself, Thankfully none of them seem to know. Unlucky for her, she also has her true..well preferred name on all social media.
"Yeah..i might've heard her.."
"What was her name again?" Murakami flashed a smile to Dai, she was a bit more stiff and closed off to everyone..When sensei looked in her eyes they seemed dull until she switched yet again to Donnie saying her name..or at least what she thought was her name. It was, but he wasn't calling her, he was simply reading it aloud.
"Dai! I looked it up."he put his phone down and looked, seeing murakami smirking at the women in front of him.
"Hmm..what a coincidence."
She flipped Murakami off while closing her eyes, putting the other earbud in, Not even trying to hide it. Playing the music loud enough for others to hear in an attempt to calm her nerves.
"If you're going to play music, at least play it on a speaker or something girl!" Mikey joked, Giving himself a slight idea.. In any other case he'd stay out of this. It's not his life but it did seem fun and maybe it will release the tense feeling in the small shop. He took his phone and shared his screen to the Larger one in the corner and played a playlist of "sakura's blood" songs, it was a youtube mix of pure audio with the album cover or a couple music videos. The leading song was a cover she did of NF's "Intro lll" with a friend, taking the dramatic theme of a girl with an abusive father, picking up her old violin and taking herself back into her repressed memories to face him, thankfully this was just the audio, not the video.. She immediately recognized it and kept her head down, Her earbuds falling out and into her lap.
"Ugh, really? one of her most depressing songs? what're ya listening to that one for anyways?" Raph asked, highly annoyed, And as much as it pissed Dai and everyone else off a little they were also wondering the same question..Sensei listened to the words 'The Therapy sessions were beautiful daddy but i'm wondering what's coming next..get that bottle outta your hand when i'm talking to you, You hear what i said?' A female voice sang, Sweet as a flower, but as venomous as an inland taipan..then a male, an older male. 'You don't like the prison I built you? You wanna know what the funny thing is? you keep on talkin' to me like a stranger, but we've been together since you were a kid!' Sick and manipulative. He too wondered why his youngest son and little light would listen to such things.
"It's on a youtube autoplay playlist, I just pressed it and it plays her top songs or whatever she's tagged in." Mikey explained and everyone returned to eating
"Well..that makes a little more sense." Leo suddenly said, Leading donnie to his next statement.
"And the song does have good meaning, Overcoming toxicity and bad people and setting yourself free."
Yeah..'bad people' She ran those words through her head again and again. She was hunched over and praying no one would notice her trembling.. or was that just in her head? Was she imagining she was shaking? Donnie nudged her a little..
"Hey..are you ok?"
"yeah I'm fine, Just a little tired."
" Maybe another jumping would help." ..So raph's the sarcastic one. got it.
"Or music, you seem to like it. Right?" The Orange one chimed
Murakami wasn't helping.. He started to playfully chant his name to encourage her, everyone else except Splinter and Raphael did the same. She laughed a little..a red tint spreading across her face. Trying to mask his uncomfortable she was.
'You didn't tell them about the times you and I used to hold the mic!' The speakers sang 'I mean what are ya? Outta your mind? Cause both of us will be, Come on let's go outside!'
"Dai! Dai! Dai!" They continued to chant..it almost sounded like they were saying 'die' making her smile a little..
"Is this what you wanted?! Both of us out in the open, Let's do it then! I mean why are ya doin this? I know that you're mad, But i'm not in the mood for this! I got my own life to start!" Her voice sounded just like the audio, rage filled and with power, like she was right there screaming at the man who ruined her life, surprising everyone. The way she ran through the words of the rap so seamlessly with grace. Partially how she was feeling in the moment with the pressure of everyone daring her to sing this ballet. The rat master scanned her suspiciously.
"Not what you'd expect from me?" She responded, meeting his gaze.
"I will admit..you're strange.." He turned away back to his own food.
"Thanks..i get that a lot." She gave a faint smile. Soon the song ended and her remix of "Come get her" started, Meaning time for her to leave before it hit her verse. The furry ninja glared at his son and commanded him for them to turn it off as the lyrics were too sexual for his liking. She laughed, Grabbing her bag and making sure to pay her bill. "Hey um..add theirs to mine too." She turned to them "I got you guys."
"You really dont have to-'' She cut Leo off quickly
"No, It's ok, really." She smiled something true and pure. A soft look in her eyes, given their form..they probably won't have much money.
While she was chatting with Murakami and paying..A small idea arose when Donnie saw her bag. He grabbed a paper and pen and wrote down their names and numbers, stuffing it in right before she turned to grab it.
"Well..thanks for keeping me company tonight. Hope to see you again." she secretly hoped she wouldn't. She'd cause then trouble probably.
"Just..dont-"
"Tell anyone of your existence? Trust me i'm good with secrets.'' that small little Japanese mixed with western American accent was evident yet again, it made them wonder if she grew up with family of different backgrounds, catching on to both accents and just becoming her way of talk. Either way, her words were the security they needed, even if they knew there's a chance she could be lying and sell them out at the next opportunity..but to Donnie, she didn't seem like that. Her soft smile and tired eyes made him hope that maybe she was on their side..or maybe he just has to much faith in human greed and the good in people.
They all smiled a little..it seems like she understood them by a small amount. Donnie quickly said, Instead of sayonara like you usually would if you weren't seeing someone for a long time said "Matane!"
Caught off guard she turned, simply replaying "Honana!" Before leaving with her earbuds in playing music..Starting the walk home. Everyone turned to each other and traded confused glances.
"how on earth did she not freak out?!?" Raph shouted
"Maybe she's seen a mutant before! Or maybe she is a mutant!" Mikey got overly excited, then gasped remembering April's old friend "Or..maybe she's a kraang in disguise!"
"A kraang would try to fit in more." Raph pointed out yet again with classic sarcasm, Then they all turned to leo who appeared lost in thought.
"What?"He snapped out of his trance, looking at the other men at the small bar
'What do you mean what?! you're the 'fearless' leader!"
"Raphael!" Splinter caught his attention quickly, growing tired of his son's sarcastic tone tonight.
"What do you think of her..?" Donnie's voice was softer than his elder brother. He looked to Murakami.
"Mr. Murakami, what do you know about her?" Leo asked, trying to get as much information on her as possible, if she was a regular or new, if she lived near by, anything they could relatively go on..including if he trusts her.
"Well.. I didn't get much from her, She seems to just be a musician that lives with her brother a couple blocks away." He took her dishes from earlier and begin washing them.
They then looked to the other elder of the room.
"Sensei, What do you think?"
He sat silent, She seemed a mix of many things, Kindness, empathy, venom, warm and ice cold at the same time, dark and locked behind walls of only the ancestors know. You can't ever get to know a person by first meetings..nor can you make assumptions on them, because those could drive you to a false reality around them.
"She's..interesting. I'd recommend keeping our distance."
"Hai father!" They all replayed. They thanked Murakami and started their walk, returning to their hidden home, Donnie anxiously waited for a response from his note.
Nice dai..you already fucked shit up on your first night here. She had very loud Kim dracula songs playing through her ear buds, If you stood next to her you would hear his violent, dark, demon-like amazing voice. "SAY PLEASE" screaming into her head. The night air made the strands of her thin, 35 inch hair flutter a little as she walked. She started to feel chills run up her spine all the way to the back of her head, Like some large creature under her skin running through her body, destroying it. She involuntarily twitched her head, snapping it around then back to look ahead.
Though her earbuds were blaring with sound, She could hear faint, small sniffling and sobs around a corner. She took one out to make sure she was hearing it right, or if it was a delusion and she just missed her meds. She looked around, 2 small figures huddled close together for warmth under a small hot pink jacket.. a young girl, possibly about 9, and a little boy looking around 5 years old. She turned and stood in front of themand kneeled down. They looked at her in utter fear.
"Are you ok?" no answer "do you know where your parents are?" Still no answer, just backing themselves closer to the wall. she smiled at them gently. She recognized that look in their eyes, the fear to trust another after being hurt. Violated. Manipulated. And simply due to their childlike minds hoping things would all be ok, hoping they could go to bed and cuddle to their blankets and plushies. Afraid that if they trust someone else they'll be betrayed and left to rot in some hellish hole. Dai knew it all to Well from her adolescence.
"My name's Dai, can you tell me yours so I can find someone to help you?" She looked at the boy, then back at her. The young girl kept her lips right and her eyes wide in terrifying anxiety. She was doing the right thing, not telling information to a stranger, she was taught well but now she needs to spill. She got a small idea and pulled out a couple of fidget toys she uses for her anxiety, small squishy animals from the dollar store at her old home and held them out, squishing them little to show the kids, The girl hesitated but took them, she started to smile a little, But Dai noticed some familiar markings on her arms and wrists. Bruises and rope markings around her wrists, scars up and down. She could swear a bruise looked like a hand marking in the split second the child revealed her arm under a torn jacket, covering the 2 little ones.
"I got something else." She grabbed her MP3 out of the purse and a cord, attaching it to a small speaker keychain on her bag and playing disney music, Granted it was in japanese but it was something. The girl seemed to recognize a song from a few years ago or longer, from the movie the little mermaid. The scene where Ariel begged to be a part of the human world, to explore, to find something no one of her mind has seen. To discover. A young, foolish child hoping humans weren't all too bad. Hoping there was good in everything..selling her voice to carry out her dreams. She stood up and left them with the speaker and stepped away 5 steps. keeping an eye on them and calling the authorities. She hated cops.. after all all cops have seemed to do for her was fuck up her life, But the kids needed her so she sucked up any attitude she had and spoke clearly and calmly and explainging everything. The operators tone changed when he heard the area, about the markings, non-verbal responses, and the estimated ages of the kids.
"Can you tell me more of them? What do they look like?" The female operator spoke softly..as if she was shocked, but this is the city. This can't be too uncommon.
"Uhm..dirty blond hair, blue eyes, both have tattered and dirty clothing-"
"did they give a name?" A Brooklyn accent, that's what is was. Dai was trying to point it out in her head as she watched over the kiddos. The younger boy listening to his sister sing the English words to "part of your world"
"No, they've been pretty quiet."
"We'll have some officers there soon, do you mind staying with them?"
"Not at all, just please hurry."
"We'll do our best, miss."
What is up with everyone calling me ma'am and miss??? She walked closer and stood by them while they played with the small animals, making them dance to the music. In about 5 minutes maybe a car pulled up and 2 officers stepped out. A gruff older man with a buzzcut and a women with soft blonde hair in a tight ponytail. After giving them her information Dai was free to go, She grabbed her bag and waved to the kids while leaving to her small 'home' feeling terrible for leaving them behind..but they happily went away in the safety of the cops with their new squishy animals.
little did she know, 5 pairs of eyes watched the moment from above the rooftops on their way home.. Watched her care for the kids and watched her step inside her home, covered by the shadows of the lifeless night alleyways. Hidden from the world and from her. Setting down her bag and stripping off her shirt, tossing it to the side of the small room. Her nike sports bra and terrible memories now visible, the decorative and supportive cross fabric on her back going well with her appearance. She threw herself into the nest She created earlier. Exhausted. They caught up and watched through the big window. only seeing the small of her back before she wrapped herself in her blanket. Feeling slight warmth in the thick, powder blue cotton.
"She can't be that bad, right?" the youngest of the group asked. they stood there, watching her eyes close..but it wasn't restful. It was stressed and the only way she could block out everything. Soon, they left to their underground home, and continued the night as normal, somehow not being able to forget that strange girl.